Connecticut Army National Guard deploys soldiers to Afghanistan and Kuwait

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WINDSOR LOCKS -- The Connecticut Army National Guard is deploying 65 soldiers to Afghanistan and Kuwait. Many are expected to leave by the end of the week.

The soldiers come from the The 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group out of Groton. Their mission is to service and maintain U.S. and allied helicopters stationed in those areas.

"In all reality, it is what you make of it, if you want to make it a fun deployment, if you don't want to make it a fun deployment, if you want to go out there and be like oh I want to be there, this that, it's not going to be fun," said Spc. Emanuel Quinones, a Meriden native.

The Army National Guard held a formal send-off ceremony in Windsor Locks Tuesday evening.

The soldiers are expected to be away for at least a year. The group's last deployment was back in 2012.